Eurosatory 2023: EMBT unveils tank with 140 mm ASCALON cannon
This year's Eurosatory arms fair presented an ideal opportunity to showcase the latest proposal for the EMBT tank. The vehicle is equipped with an unmanned turret featuring a 140 mm ASCALON cannon, which is capable of effortlessly destroying any tank currently in existence.
According to Defence24, the latest version of the European EMBT tank design, intended for the French and German armies, is notable for using an uncrewed turret with a giant calibre cannon.
This trend is evident in both German and French industry proposals. While Germany suggests increasing the main armament calibre of tanks to 130 mm (Rh-130 L/52 cannon from the KF51 Panther tank), France further promotes the 140 mm ASCALON cannon.
This advancement extends from the old FTMA (Future Tank Main Armament) project from the Cold War era. In this case, the effectiveness of anti-tank fire is due to the increased energy of the fired projectile.
The ASCALON 140 mm cannon, which can use a special telescopic projectile up to 1.3 metres long, is expected to deliver an energy of 9-14 joules when hitting a target 2 kilometres away. According to the designers, this will allow for the destruction of any tank, both currently existing and those that may be introduced into service over the next few decades.
The weapons of the future are too powerful
The drive for increased efficiency explains the push to introduce cannons with a larger calibre than the currently used 120 mm. However, manufacturers of future cannons face a significant problem—the war in Ukraine has validated the effectiveness of currently used weapons.
Instances of firefights have shown that Western tanks with older cannons (modern models fire higher energy projectiles) and using 30-year-old ammunition have no trouble penetrating the front armour of the latest Russian tanks.
Given that modern ammunition is much more effective than what has been provided to Ukraine, this raises doubts about the necessity for the costly, rapid introduction of more giant calibre tank cannons into service. Contrary to earlier concerns, the ones currently in use have no problems penetrating Russian armour.
